The argument about the F-35 changing the face of dogfighting really is getting laughable, as Shaw's classic "Fighter Combat" the bible of the craft and what the vast majority of fighter pilots learn from teaches the dogfight is controlled by the tactics of advantage and won by the better pilot but the quality of the aircraft does have a bearing.

The T-50 is not so clear however, Russia as the article notes have cut the order to a mere dozen and India as a partner and potential client don't seem too impressed.

The report of the IAF roundly defeating Typhoon IIs is more than a beat up though, the particular exercise was set up that way and even the IAF agree.

The F-35C, bigger wing non-VSTOL naval version for the USN is undergoing sea-trials right now on the Eisenhower, seems to be doing ok and in less than millpond weather.

Not much has really been said about that variant, it carries more fuel has a beefed up tail to handle the hook and so far has sort of slipped under the radar. It actually looks like it will be pretty much ok for the Navy except that the same bugs the USAF is having to grapple with in the -A version, mostly code and cockpit are right there.

It still has an at the moment useless void behind the cockpit where the -B airframe demands space for the fan though, Navy are apparently saying get it to us that way and we'll stick some fuel in there...

The reality is the defense needs of Canada are not really much different to ours.

This programme is going to be in huge trouble soon, the problem is that Lockheed cannot be allowed to go under, too many in -service airframes to support and too much other perfectly good stuff running. Besides, who wants Boeing to be the only manufacturer in the US ?

It's a little ironic though that currently Russia and China have as much team diversity as the US....

The new Government of Canada is not sworn in until 4/11, a lot can happen in politics in that time but if their new PM is anything like his dad he'll stick to his guns.

It's not so much the extra money though, over life of programme that could go either way, it's that Canada is breaking ranks for all the right reasons, it is not a suitable aircraft for their role which is purely air defense. We should probably look at it that way ourselves.

It's notable as well that Canada has never not bought American in the Jet Age - they may still do with Super Hornets or F-15s but it is to be an open competition and Saab, Eurofighter and Dassault will most likely all bid.

I'd love to see Sukhoi make an offer - actually I'd love to be in Washington if they did

The -47 has not thus far gone past experimental and details of its performance are veiled in secrecy but FSW designs have extraordinary flight capabilities including low and slow with plenty of weaponry so could perform both air-to-air and CAS rather well.

Need to remember though that the A-10 was not just damned effective and highly survivable it was also cheap which a multi-role would not be

Fantasyland would be a swing wing that could swing forward as well as back

So essentially all of these partner nations, us included, have put in funding for a project that has gone way over time and budget and now it is being delivered crippled and with reduced fighting capability?

Some friends at the Pentagon have told me it's just a temporary thing, the code is not well secured, whatever that means.

Ordinarily I'm sort of chomping at the bit to get to fly a new jet, not that I always get the opportunity, but this one I think I'll pass on for now. The first couple are supposed to arrive at Pearce airbase just a few miles from me before end of year, I'll probably go take a look but it's pretty bloody underwhelming for all the time and money - most unusual for a Lockheed project.

You know myself and a couple of friends figured out the other day that including full R&D we created the full Harrier dev units for less than the cost of one these pieces of shit - in real dollar terms....

1993 - initial studies and submissions by 4 manufacturers.1995 - UK first overseas partner, Canada joins in 1997.1996 - development contracts awarded to Boeing and Lockheed-Martin (the "real" work starts to begin)2001 - flyoff between Boeing and Lockheed, system development and demonstration contract awarded to L-M.2008 - first weight optimised F-35A produced2010 - production started.

Fair enough, it's a drawn out program to not concentrate the budget black hole in a few years and the F-16 and Super Hornet were still fairly relevant and competitive well into the 2000s but it's getting ridiculous.

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